The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-11-30
THANKSGIVING DAY.
The Way 1t Was observed Inside the
Walls.

The Way 1t Was Observed Inside the
Walls.
AS the readers of THE MIRROR are aware
something out of the usual order prepared
for the inmates of this prison last Thursday.
The program printed carried out with a
few additions. The inmates were on tiptoe of
expectation, and long before 10 O'Clock, the hour
for entering the chapel. visitors began TO arrive
at the warden's Office until they numbered in the
neighborhood of 3OO The inmates turned out
almost to a mar, Notwithstanding there were
some who were afraid that this departure from
the Old established custom would prove failure
AS soon as were seated. visitors began to enter
the chapel and continued pouring in till every
available seat and standing occupied.
and all the chairs from the matron's department;
in fact, every movable seat about the prison
brought into requist. on. Fully $50 we're accom-
dated with seats, and as many more were obliged
to retrace their steps homeward, not being able
to gain admittance.
The services were opened by the choir singing
the anthem, ITO God Be the Glory The chap
lain Rev. J. II. Albert then read the l3Gth Psalm
and delivered short. earnest prayer. After an
other anthem by the choir. 'For God So Loved the
World, Mr.. Albert spoke in substance as follows:
"For every good and every perfect gift is from
above" Thanksgiving should be with us always.
There is not day passes that we have not some
thing to be thankful for. If we see and look for
all of the bitterness in this life. the most favored
of will find things to complain about; but if we
turn faces resolutely to the bright side and
are determined to see and dwell upon only the
pleasant occurrences. it is astonishing how much
we can find to be thankful for. There are a num-
Der OF "orgns' given in history and tradition for
this annual celebration Of Thanksgiving One
recently came to my notice. and consider it so
good that will relate it to you. Shortly after
reaching the shores of New England. calamity af-
ter calamity befell the Pilgrim Fathers. 1t was
the custom after each affection to appoint a day
of fasting and prayer unto the Lord. At last a
trouble more grievOus than any Of its predeces.
sors came upon them. They gathered at the meet
ing house to consider what was to be DONE One
man got up and said they must appoint another
day OF lamantation-another day of fasting and
prayer This seemed to be the general opinion of
the assembly, when an old man arose and said
that he wished to move an amendment; that so
many days of fasting and lamentatlon were dis
cOuraging to the young and disheartening to the
old; that he believed they all had something,
even in this time of direst distress, to be thank.
full for; that thanksgiving was more acceptable to
the Lord than lamentation. and that he moved
that day be set apart to give thanksgiving to the
Lord The assembly adopted the motion and
Thanksgiving day was inuugurated. This origin
may not be the true one, but it seems to me Pc
culiarly adapted to the occasion. There are those
before me that are in deep rffliction. The past
is full OF sorrow and the future seems dark, yet
there is not one among you that has not cause for
real thankfulness We may to have very
little to BE thankful for, and yet how much worse
1T might be. How much more CALLING your con.
fnement could be made. You should be thankful
that you have officers here in charge of you that
are humane. who are endeavOrng to do all in their
power to mitigate the severity of your enforced
stay in this place. You have reason to be thank.
full to the citizens of saltwater and our neichbor.
ing cities who are awakening to degree of &C.
tivity on your behalf. never before, known 1
could 60 on and enumerate many other reasons
but in one and all of them our Heavenly Father
should be the central figure. This is a day set
apart for special services to God not a day to de.
vote entirely to the plea sures Of eating and ysi.
ting. but for a sacred communion between uG and
our Creator. He is the author of our being: He is
the author OF our blessings, and it is to Him that
the praise should be given. There is one thing
above all others. that as nation. as a communi.
ty. as individuals. we should be thankful for and
that is. the progress OF christianity Christianity
has made and is making great progress This is
considered askeptical age. This is true, but it is
healthy skeptcism, skepticism of creeds and
oogmas and not an atheist:cal skepticism. The
bible never stood firm as iii stands to day.